Communication Techniques for Children with ADHD

Parents must learn ways to help children with ADHD develop effective communication skills. Healthy parent-child relationships can be established when the child with ADHD knows that his/her parent is interested in helping him/her communicate more effectively in the classroom. The following communication techniques may help you establish a good relationship with your ADHD child:

• Your child with ADHD may sometimes shows rude and aggressive behavior. Teach your child to be polite. You can do this by role modeling yourself with your child in practicing good communication skills.

• Children with ADHD should be advised to count to 10 before engaging in an action and while counting tell him/her to think about the results of his/her actions. This technique will help your child to think before doing any act. Never forget to praise your ADHD child for his/her control over the behavior that turned a negative action into a positive one.

• Spend some quality time with your ADHD child. Switch off the T.V. and put away the newspaper. Sit at your child’s level to make eye contact. Listen carefully to your child so that he/she will also listen to you.

• Never use "put-down" words with your ADHD child such as” bad” child. Be careful when you are communicating with your ADHD child as such words will make him/her feel bad and possibly act out in negative behavior.

Teachers must realize the fact that communication with ADHD children is different than with their non-disabled peers.

Children with ADHD communicate freely in small groups (2-3 children). Children with ADHD in small groups feel free to express their feelings and also develop the skill of reflective listening (i.e. you can ask questions regarding what other children have said).

When you are communicating with ADHD children, speak slowly, politely and in short sentences. Repeat the phrases if necessary and do not get irritated. To communicate effectively assign front seats near your desk to children with ADHD so that they can hear your learning instructions.

Use a ping-pong communicating technique for children with ADHD. In this technique explain to the child that when you talk, he/she will listen and when he/she talks, you will listen.

Thus, communication skills can be developed in children with ADHD by practice and spending time with them and allowing lots of time for practicing their newly developed communication skills.